I’m a big fan of Babymouse, the
heroine of another graphic novel series by this
sister/brother team that typically appeals to girls in early elementary
grades. Whereas, Babymouse’s books are
pink, Squish is neon green. You see,
Squish is an amoeba with some very human-type problems with protozoan
twists. His best friend seems more like
a leech than an amoeba since he’s always
mooching lunch money off his best buddy.
Peggy is a super-duper perky, cheerful, optimistic, if slightly dim,
paramecium who can be super annoying for our hero, Squish. The point of conflict revolves around Lynwood, a mean, bullying
amoeba who’s looking to make Peggy his next meal. Enter Squish, an aspiring hero who resolves
to ‘do the right thing’.

This series will appeal to early
readers, especially boys. It’s fast
paced, with a likeable protagonist. The
storyline and characters aren’t too complicated and the ending kind of wraps up
a little quick but this is a fun book that will work in grades 2 to 4.

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel (823 T256C FIC)

I’ve enjoyed his other graphic
novels (Ghostopolis, Bad Island) mostly because of the illustration style,
which is high-end with full, coloured, glossy pages. The interesting premise
for this book is cardboard figures coming to life through magic. Some of the storylines are a little
predictable but the story flows along easily as we get to know the relatively
uncomplicated characters, an unemployed widowed father who loves his son, the
son, Cam a really good kid if a bit naïve, Bill, a cardboard figure who is
loyal, sweet natured yet protective who yearns to be a fully ‘fleshed’ out
character and Marcus, the rich, over indulged bad-boy of the neighbourhood who
we just know is looking for trouble (and going to get it). Again, the action is fast paced and will hold
readers’ attention right to the end. It
finishes with a very tidy happy ending.
This will appeal to middle grade readers.

This one is for the high school
crowd with a penchant for puzzles, digital media, and ambiguous endings. This ‘scrapbook’, with faded photos,
postcards, IMs, ticket stubs, recital programs, TV clips, YouTube links (to be
followed by the reader), newspaper clippings, tells the story of Glory, a piano
prodigy with a fragile, complicated psyche. It seems to start with loving
parents and an interest in music. After
the death of her mother when Glory is around 8,
life is much less happy and certain. We learn that Glory is a very talented pianist, playing sold-out
concerts around the world. We are also
privy to a romance with a neighbour, an artistic boy from Argentina who
is not liked by Glory’s father. But
things are not as they seem. We learn
that Glory is slipping into a mental crisis.
She begins playing Chopsticks during her concerts until eventually that
is all she plays for hours on end. She
is committed (and has been committed several times) to a ‘rest home’. When the novel starts we learn that she is missing
and at the end, it is left up to the reader to decide what has happened to
Glory and what parts of the story are real. This very interesting visual narrative will
take more than one reading.

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About Me

I am the reference coordinator at The Doucette Library of Teaching Resources, a curriculum library in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary.
I love connecting education students and teachers with engaging and exciting resources for classroom teaching. I believe that resources that get me excited (or those that get you excited) are the ones with the best potential to get kids interested in learning about - well, everything. Finding those books that connect to the real world are the ones I enjoy promoting the most.